Electric sterilizer



July 15, 1941. J. P. JACKSON Erm.

ELECTRIC STERILIZER Filed July 12. 1939 Patented July 15, 1941 iJNi'rsof-.sfrz-iTE-s-` Para l,'.7rrics Y l Y l ,ELEC'r1511?;izn.IvzimiHrw l l t John jackson and Richinondr'- C. Johnson, 'y

Marshall, Mo., assignors to Herbert Wolcott, Columbia, Mo. 1

Application July 12, 1939,`vS erial"No. 283,940 l srclaims. (o1.- 250-51) This invention relates to improvements k'in'i"I electric sterilizers and particularly to the cabinet type wherein the ultra-violet lines of an electric sterilizing lamp are directed vto the various surfaces of the object being sterilized. v

vided witha reflector suitable for directing Athe sterilizing ultra-violet radiant energy toward Reference will now be had to the `drawing wherein: Y Y.

Figure 1 isa perspective view of an electric;

sterilizing cabinet embodying this f invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the cabinet.

Fig. 3 .is a foreshortened horizontal sectional View taken on line III- III of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical wiring View.

Throughout the several views like reference characters refer to similar parts andthe numeral I designates a cabinet having end walls I2, bottom I4, top I 6, rear wall I 8, and front wall 2D. Front wall 2D extends only a short distance downwardly from top I6, thus presenting anopening 22 through which the articles may be inserted into the sterilizing chamber.

The bottom I4 is preferably made of a porcelain lined planar sheet metal plate, which tends to absorb the ultra-violet rays and prevent their radiation from the cabinet through opening 22.

An irregularly curved reector 24, substantially elliptical in vertical cross section with its major axis extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper, forward portion of the cabinet, serves as a reflector of the ultra-violet rays in a downwardly direction. A highly polished aluminumplate has proven to be a very suitable material for producing the reiiector plate 24, since it will not absorb the ultra-violet lines and is a good reflector of the radiant energy.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the portion of the reilector of greatest curvature 26 is at its forward end and that it produces a recess 2l in which is longitudinally positioned an electric sterilizing lamp tube 28. This lamp is constructed to emit ultra-violet lines of 2537 angstrom units and is now in general use as a sterilizing means. VLamp holders 30 and 32 positioned respectively at opposite ends of the lamp tube, serve to support the lamp in iixed position relative to reflector 24.

Secured to the rear wall I8 of the cabinet,

The principal object of this invention is them' provision vof a sterilizer having a cabinet pro- 1 above reflector `2li, is a reactor 34 having a choke fcoi1-736 and knife switch'3l. connectedwiththeflamp electrodes, as clearly This reactor is shown in Fig.'f4'. VOther forms of circuits now in vgeneral usefmight also be used to energize lamp 'ftube V 28 through'the usual house circuit lines 38' carrying a 60 cycle 110fvolt current.

'.'In 'theoperation of this device, the articles to iln'asterilizedY are placed withinY the cabinet Von bottommember' I4 andtube 28 is energized. Direct radi'a'ntenergy will vbe directed against certai`n` surfaces of the article, while those portions Avof tlefsurface. ofthe article not receiving lthe `ldirect lines', @will receive reflected ultra-violet raysffromreflector 2'4, thus insuring a thorough lsterilization of the article.Y

` It'will be noted that the tube i-s Yso positioned relative to the reflector 24 and opening 22, that nodirect,ultra-violet'rays will pass through said opening, (furthermore, the lower portion 4I) of vthe reflector is substantially'planar and parallel with the rear wall I8, thus insuring a general downwardly and forwardly reection of the ultra-violet rays therefrom.

It is very apparent that the present sterilizing apparatus is simple and inexpensive in construction; that articles of various shapes and sizes may be thoroughly sterilized with a minimum amount of energy on the part of the operator; and at an extremely low consumption of electrical current.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a cabinet having a front opening extending upwardly from the bottom thereof to a line adjacent and spaced apart from the top of the cabinet; a substantially partial elliptical shaped reilector positioned in the upper portion of said cabinet With its major axis extending rearwardly and downwardly to the rear of the cabinet and having a downwardly extending planar section disposed adjacent the rear Wall of the cabinet; andan electric ultra-Violet ray lamp positioned Within said cabinet adjacent the front portion of said reector and above said front opening whereby all the direct and indirect ultra-violet rays are reflected downwardly toward the bottom of said cabinet.

2. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a cabinet having an opening in the front wall thereof extending upwardly from the bottom thereof to a line spaced apart from the top of the cabinet;

a substantially elliptical shaped, aluminum reiiector positioned in the upper portion of said cabinet with its major axis extending rearwardly and downwardly toward the rear of the cabinet; and an electric ultra-violet ray lamp positioned within the front portion of said reector and above said front opening whereby all the ultraviolet direct and indirect rays are reflected downwardly toward the bottom of said cabinet.

3. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a rectangular cabinet having its major front portion open to permit free access to the cabinet and having a planar bottom member m-ade of a. material that absorbs the ultra-violet rays, ia sheet of ultra-violet reflecting material curvedin one direction only to present a reflector of substantially elliptical vertical sectional shape with a depending planar section reaching to said bottom, an elongated electric lainp positioned in the upper forward part of said cabinet above-said front opening whereby direct ultraviolet rays emitted therefrom will [be directed away from said open front and toward'said bottom and'said sheet reector, whereby ya minimum of jultraviolet rays escape through rsaiolopen front.

4. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a cabinet "25 having a relatively large'opening in its front wall extending vupwardly from the bottom to a line adjacent and 4spaced downwardly from the top with the major axes thereof, extending rearwardly and downwardly from said front wall and having the 'lower portion of said sheet material of planarshape jdisposed in a substantial vertical position, an elongated electric lamp disposed substantially parallel with said front wall and positioned insaid cabinet above said opening whereby no' direct light rays therefrom will pass "pending 'Planer .S

thereof, a reflector comprising a sheet of I Iiate-4 rial positioned and shaped to forma recess the front portion of said cabinetA above' saidj front wall opening and to extend rearwardly'anddownwardly below said front opening to a point adjacent the bottom of the receptacle, 'an 'elorigatejd-l electric lamp Ydisposed substantially parallel'with" said front wall andvpositionedat the front 'of said cabinet in said recessr above said Vopening whereby no direct light rays therefrom will pass through said front opening and wherebyfsubg. stantially all light rays from said lamp and from i taiigvular 'cabinet'.having an open front, Ya slri'eet 'of polished ali'iminurm@curved in one direction only to present aree'ctor of substantially p artial. elliptical'. crosssetieal. .svhapejwith .a der Acation, one yend. of said reilector d adjacent the front and upper :beine wat portion of said cabinet wane thepianarportipn "othereof'issubstantially contiguous vwith the verticalzbalck "wall of the cabinet; -'an elongated electric lamp positioned substantially parallelwith the front of s'aid 'cabinet and within said reilector above said front opening `whereby all the iight lrays from said electric lamp will be d1- re'ct'ed from 'said lamp 'and lfrom said reflector downwardly toward the bottom of said cabinet.

JH'N PJACKSON. Y RICHMOND C. JOHNSON. 

